Wichita eagle., 1887-07-17
MURDER.
Twenty-Five Dollars in Money
Prompts the Deed Of
Blood.
William Parrish. Colored Man,
Foully Murdered by a Com.
panion While Fishing

Last evening about dark one Of the hand
employed at the brick yard on Fourteenth
street went from the yard back through tn
corn field to the edge Of Chisholm creek
he noticed that the corn was tramped dow
| and brown cigarette papers and letters wer
strewn upon the ground. Looking closer n
saw small pool of blood and every evidence
that struggle had taken place
He Immediately called to another hand EN-
ployed at the yard and directed his attention
| to hat he had seen. The two made fur
tier investigation, and giancing toward tn
river, saw trail along which body hat
been dragged. They then began to thlnl
that q murder had been committed, and wer'
soon established in their belief by see
| ing tie bloody body of col
ored man lying partly submerged neal
the waters edge. They pulled him upon thu
bark; life was apparently extinct but thu
| BODY was not cold in death. He was maj
apparently so years of age and weighed
about 175 pounds, dressed in light Goa
brown shirt, and dark pants which were I'm
buttored at the waist and had fallen to hi
knees. Upon the head were three cuts from
| which the blood was still oozing; the right
eve was black and swollen as if from blow
Mr.. James Campbell, who lived at the ccr
ner of Ohio and Fourthe street
was notified and he came for Coroner Win
gard who he found about 10 o'clock at his
office; ard they in company with others re
paired to the spot. The pants pockets were
found to be turned wrong side out The let
ter i ing upon the bank was from brother
and was written from San Antono. Texas
June Is, 1887 An envelop without any ad
dress aud containing two sheets OF blank
pager in which was folded S25 in bills, ar
account book ii which were several address
es, and al employment card from j. R,
Ke worthy were also found. The card bore
the name of William Parish and said that he
was in search of job of work in the city.
Who was the murderer was naturally the
question asked. Mr.. Hopkins, ar
employee of the brick yard says
that bout or o'clock he saw the murder.
ed msn in company with another colored
man cross the brick yard carrying fishing
poles and buckets going towards the creek
He spoke 10 them and they replied. The
companion he said was man of about the
same size as the deceased, wore he thought
dark clothes, was black and had
a beari upon bis face. Sometime afterwards,
about & o'clock, he thought, the same man
ba Io,,
to the upper brick yard. Then cut across
the field, return to the yard, pass hurriedly
out Of the gate, leaving it open be-
hird him. The man was not seen
afterwards. and was unknown to
any Of the hands who were at the
yard. This is then theman upon whom rests
suspicion OF the atrocious crime. The two
when last seen together were the best OF
the deed. OF course, such is but superstition.
Parish had perhaps, shown or read
to his companion the letter from his
brother wherein it is stated that
his mother had sent him some
money he had perhaps told his friend of the
s25 which he had upon his person The man
determined to have this at every risk. He
found his opportunity when Parish was in a
recumbent position, passed behind him, dealt
him a blow with stone or some heavy in
strument upon the head. The victim pitch
ed over stunned but still possessed Ct
30 'ce enough 20 struggle for his life. The
two other blows must be given. His victim
is apparently Efeless. Then hastily search
ing his pockets, lie draggs the dead body
to the bank of the creek, throws it into the
water and fees. For the terrible deed he
perhaps received nothing; for in his hasty
search be had CIV rlooked the only incentive
to the crime.
His body had been taken to a grassy spot
below where the marks of the struggle, were
To be seen, and win be brought to the city by
Mr.. Kendall, the undertaken, to be prepared
for burial.